For father-and-son songwriters Mike and Nicholas McCray, known together as Nik Ryan, music has become a testimony shaped by serious health challenges, a son's determination to share his faith with his father, and an unexpected calling that neither saw coming.
Now, that story takes its next step with "All In," the explosive debut single from Nik Ryan and the introduction of a captivating new voice in Christian music.
Part testimony and part battle cry, "All In" is an unapologetic declaration of devotion and purpose. Charged with sacrifice, perseverance, and spiritual grit, the... Read More For father-and-son songwriters Mike and Nicholas McCray, known together as Nik Ryan, music has become a testimony shaped by serious health challenges, a son's determination to share his faith with his father, and an unexpected calling that neither saw coming.
Now, that story takes its next step with "All In," the explosive debut single from Nik Ryan and the introduction of a captivating new voice in Christian music.
Part testimony and part battle cry, "All In" is an unapologetic declaration of devotion and purpose. Charged with sacrifice, perseverance, and spiritual grit, the song captures what it means to leave hesitation and compromise behind in pursuit of wholehearted surrender to Christ.
That message is deeply personal for the McCrays.
After suffering multiple seizures in 2022, Mike was unable to drive for six months, putting Nicholas behind the wheel. Nicholas, whose faith had become increasingly important to him, insisted on listening to Christian music whenever they were together.
"He made me listen to his playlists and K-LOVE, and I fought it every step of the way," Mike recalls.
Eventually, something began to change. Mike, who had spent his life listening to rock and roll, heavy metal, and classic rock, found himself singing along. But Nicholas was after something much more important than changing his father's musical taste.
"After a couple of months of listening to Christian music in the car, Nicholas looked at me and said, 'Dad, when I go to heaven one day, I want you to be with me,'" Mike remembers.
A few days later, Mike accepted Christ.
"I was trying to plant a seed," Nicholas says. "The seed was planted, and God watered it."
Mike's conversion came amid an incredibly difficult season. He had undergone surgery for a brain tumor in 2011, and the seizures in 2022 eventually led doctors to discover a second brain tumor, which was removed in 2023. Later, on Thanksgiving Day, Mike experienced another violent seizure while remaining fully conscious. Unable to control his body or even form his own thoughts, one thing broke through.
"As soon as I thought the name of Jesus, I was released from the seizure," Mike says.
Days later, Mike began hearing melodies and pieces of Christian songs in his head that he had never heard before. Then, after hearing Nicholas working on an original song in his bedroom, something opened up.
"I walked out after he played it for me, then came back with four songs written in half an hour," Mike recalls. "I kept writing as much as I could. I couldn't stop."
That unexpected flood of creativity eventually led Mike and Nicholas to Nashville Christian Songwriters (NCS) and its Artist Development program, where their songwriting and father-son partnership continued to grow. Working with producer Coby James, the two began developing Nik Ryan's modern pop rock sound and turning their shared story into songs.
"I want to share the Word and gospel of Jesus Christ through the ministry of our music," Mike says. "I also want to find a musical middle ground for people who don't know Christ or are just beginning to learn about Him–people like me who come from a much rougher musical background."
It's a mission Nicholas sums up simply: "We want to make music that is pleasing to the Lord."
With sonic touchpoints including Skillet, Stephen Stanley, and Thousand Foot Krutch, "All In" delivers on that mission with an aggressive rock edge and an uncompromising message of faith. The single marks the beginning of much more music to come from Nik Ryan, with future releases through the end of 2026 and early 2027 exploring other genres and influences that have impacted Mike and Nicholas throughout their lives.
"All In" is available now wherever Christian music is streamed.
